PEORIA — Two men accused of shooting a woman eight years ago face up to life in prison after being charged Thursday with first-degree murder.

Allen Fitzpatrick, 34, and Michael A. Johnson, 31, of 3010 Woodbine Terrace, appeared separately before Peoria County Judge John Vespa. Each man was shackled and appeared in the jumpsuits of Peoria County Jail inmates. Vespa ordered Fitzpatrick held on $2.5 million bond while Johnson’s bond was set at $2 million.

Both are scheduled to appear in court July 31 for a preliminary hearing though it is likely a grand jury will meet before then.

A third man, Anthony King, 34, of Peoria, also was arrested in connection with the slaying of Robbin Underwood, 48, of Marquette Heights, on March 15, 2006, but he was released without charge.

Fitzpatrick and Johnson — as well as a third, unnamed man — are accused of trying to gun down Micah Forman in the 1300 block of North Ellis Street that night but instead killed Underwood and injured her niece Jennifer Lindler, said Assistant State’s Attorney David Kenny.

The prosecutor said the shooting was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Carl Wells Jr., 25, who was shot outside his sister’s house in the 900 block of West Third Street just four days before the Marquette Heights woman was killed.

Kenny told the judge Forman had met Underwood’s niece about 8:47 that night to sell her cocaine when a blue minivan pulled out. Fitzpatrick, Johnson and the unnamed man allegedly got out, ran up to Forman, supposedly a member of a rival gang, and started shooting.

Underwood was shot multiple times including in the head. Lindler was struck several times in the legs, according to police and Journal Star archives. Forman wasn’t injured and escaped. He is serving a four-year prison sentence for aggravated unlawful restraint and will be released in 2016.

Both Fitzpatrick and Johnson have extensive criminal records, both of which date back to the 1990s. Fitzpatrick is awaiting trial on federal conspiracy charges involving his involvement with the Zone 4 street gang, which was targeted by the Don’t Shoot initiative. In 1995, he was convicted of armed robbery.

Kenny said the third man already had given a videotaped statement to police and would likely be charged sometime soon. He said he was in custody elsewhere and couldn’t be transported to Peoria County to face charges.

Andy Kravetz can be reached at 686-3283 or akravetz@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @andykravetz.